District



A. FERNANDEZ.

SWITCH BOX. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1. I918 Patent'ed May 20, 1919.

Wot

atfouuua ABEL FERNANDEZ, or wasnrneron, nrsrrnrc'r orconumnra.

SWITCH-30X.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented lllay 20, 1919.

-pplication filed March 1, 1918. Serial No. 219,827.

ceiving an automatic cut-out, such as shown ing element, and

and claimed in my co-pending application bearing Serial Number 220,085 or any form of circuit closing means which will protect the sameand when closed, will serve to prevent tampering with the circuit closing means therein or the fraudulent opening of the boX.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide the box with a. novel form of means for retaining the cover or closure means tliereover and for positively preventing the insertion of implements thereinto or i the fraudulent opening of the same.

The invention also aims to providemeans for retaining the circuit closing elements in proper position upon the base thereof and as a consequence, insuring proper functioning of the same at all times.

I l u o n ner of its application may be readily under- In order that the invention and the manstood by those skilled in the art, I have in the accompanying illustrative drawings and in the detailed following description based thereon, set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention.-

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the box base, the cover having been removed,

Fig. 2 1s a vertical longitudinal section through the box having the cover applied Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail in section taken on-the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 with the cover applied showing the side connections, Fig. 1 is a similar View taken on the line H of Fig. 1 showing the engagement of the box cover with the switch handle receiv- .Fig. 5 is a like, view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing the engagement of the box cover with a portion of the segmental shoulder.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, in connection with which llke reference characters designate correspond ng parts throughout the several views, the improved switch box includes a substantially ovalbase 1 formed preferably of porcelain or like insulating material having a plural ty of openings 1 formed therein through which screws or other similar fastening devices may be passed in order that the same may be secured to a suitable object. Formed upon the outer face of the base 1 at a point in proximity to the upper marginal portion thereof is a segmental shoulder 3 having a channeled portion or hp. 3. formed intermediate its ends and which as will be noted, has the upper marginal portion thereof beveled as at t for a purpose which will be subsequently apparent. Curved brackets or keepers 5 are formed upon the opposite sides of the base 1 .and have alined openings formed therein inorderthat other screws or like fastening devices 6 may be passed through the same when necessary. A bracket or keeper 7 is also formed upon one end marginal portion of the base 1 and has alined openings 8 formed therein, whereby an oval concavo-convex body substantially conforming in shape and size to the base 1 and having a lateral inwardly extending curved lip 12 formed upon the inner side of one end thereof engageable with the channeled portion 8 of the segmental shoulder 3,while an apertured tongue '13 is formed upon the remaining end of the same and is adapted to be arranged, at times, in the keeper 7. It is to be noted, that one portion of the cover is recessed as at 1 1 to permit the same to be engaged over the segment 9 while the adjacent end of the cover is formed with a shoulder 15 adapted to engage with the adjacent marginal portion of the keeperlwhen fromwhich the base 1 is constood that any suitable material may'be" used, such as conditions or preference may preventing undue lateral movement of the cover with relation to said-base.

In using my'improved switch box, the elements constituting the circuit closing means are of course arranged upon and secured to the base 1 in a suitable manner. Since said base is secured to an immovable object by means of the screws or other fastening means passing through the openings, lifting 'or other undue movement of the same will be prevented. lVith the circuit closing means thus positioned and connected, if desired. the cover 11 is arranged over the base by sliding the same into engagement therewith, thus causing engagement of the lip 12 with the segmental channeled shoulder 3 and engagement of the tongue and the ears with their respective bracket portions. IVith the cover thus positioned, the opening formed in the tongue and cars will be alined, thus permitting the insertion of the screws 6 through the keepers 5 and adjacent ears 16, while a wire tie 18 is passed through the alined openings formed in the keeper 7 and ,the tongue 13 whereupon a seal 19 onother suit-able fastening or locking means is engaged with the free ends thereof. In this connection, I desire to have it understood that'other forms of locking means may be employed, instead of the wire and seal herein shown and described; the object being to lock the cover in its closed position and to positively prevent tampering with the circuit closing means arranged in the box or the fraudulent removal of the cover.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that I have provided .an exceedingly efi'ectual and compact switch box, 'which will not only serve as a 'positive guard for the circuit .closing means arranged therein, but also will protect persons therefrom, since, the structure in its preferable form. is composed of insulating material. For this reason, the

box is rendered particularly desirable for use as'a container for automatic cut-outs which are arranged by various power companies in dwellings or other buildings and serve as means for regulating the load, that is, the amount of current conveyed into'the dwelling; it being impossible to gain access to the cut-off for fraudulent purposes withp out detection;

It is to be also understood, that the box may be used in the capacity of the ordinary junction box such as commonly used in arranging of electrical conduits, or the wir ing of houses or othervbuildings.

As hereinbefore indicated, I do'not wish to be understood as confining-the invention to the particular embodiment chosen for illustration herein. nor to the exact construction, arrangement and adoption of the parts shown and described, but I reserve the right to make any changes and alterations that clearly fall within t-he spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a switch box, a base, a channeled segmental shoulder arranged on the base adjacent one marginal portion thereof, a curved lip extending laterally from the cover engageable with the shoulder, and means engageable with the free ends of said base and cover for preventing relative movement of the same.

2. In a switch box, a base, a channeled segmental shoulder formed integral with one face of the base and arranged adjacent 3 one marginal portion thereof, a cover, a lat: 8 5 erally projecting lip formed complementally to said shoulder arranged on the cover and engageable with. the shoulder, keepers formed integral with the opposite side mar ginal portions of said base, and-ears formed upon the opposite 'side marginal portions of .said cover receivable, in the keepers and adapted to receive securing means therethrough. 3. In a switch'box, a base, a shoulder ar- 35 ranged on said base adjacent one marginal portion of the same, brackets arranged on the opposite side marginal portions of the base, a cover receivable over said base and engageable with said shoulder, ears formed 10 on the opposite side marginal portions of the cover receivable in said keepers, and means engag d with the free portions of said base and cover for preventing relative movement thereof.

1. In a switchbox, a base, a channeled segmental shoulder formed integral with the base, keepers formed integral with the side marginal portions of said base, another keeper formed integral with the marginal portion of the base and arranged opposite to said shoulder, a cover, a curved laterallv extending lip arranged upon the inner side of the cover receivable by the channeled shoulder, a tongue is formed upon the side marginal portions of the cover receivable in said keepers, and a tongue formed integral with one marginal portion of the cover arranged opposite to the curved lip receivable in the remaining keeper, said keeper, is, and tongue, having alining openings therein for receiving fastening means therethrough.

In testimony whereof, I affix my'sig'nature hereto.

ABEL FERNANDEZ. 

